Bluebook 101
Printed Formats
Purchase: Buy the 21st edition online or from the bookstore.
Rent: You can rent the 21st edition online, have it shipped to you, and ship it back at the end of the rental period (typically the end of the term).
Borrow: The library should have current copies of the Bluebook available at the Information Desk for checkout.
Bluebook Online
The Bluebook Online: The current 21st edition of The Bluebook is available online from the publisher's website. The online version gives you access for a year, with a reduced annual renewal price. You can search it and create bookmarks and annotations.
Rulebook App
Rulebook App: You can also purchase a license to The Bluebook from within the Rulebook iPad app. In October, 2020, this app was updated to use the 21st edition of The Bluebook. Reference librarian Mary Whisner wrote a review of this app when it was first released.
Formats Compared
The version of The Bluebook you choose depends on your budget and your work preferences. You can use the following chart to compare the differences.
|
|
Purchase Print |
Rent Print |
Online |
App |
Library Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Edition |
21st | 21st | 21st | 21st | 21st |
|
Price |
~$38 | ~$35 |
$39 for 1st year, cheaper if you buy 3 years at once. Renewal of $20 each year. |
$39 | Free (to you) |
|
TOC, Index |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Annotate/Bookmark |
Yes | Not if you want to return it | Yes | Yes | No |
|
Highlight |
Yes | Not if you want to return it | No | Yes | No |
|
Searchable |
Only by flipping and skimming | Only by flipping and skimming | Yes | Yes | Only by flipping and skimming |
|
Portability |
1 lb. | 1 lb. | On web | On device | Library use only (4 hrs for law students) |
|
How long can you keep it? |
Forever | End of semester/quarter | As long as you renew the license | ?? | Library use only (4 hrs for law students) |